Seems some of these "little rascals" grew up to become legit rascals: Alfalfa, Beckett, Robert Blake Alfalfa has BDF for days in that pic R23. Please enter your email and password to sign in. [4] They divorced in 1957. Last Name Switzer #3. He reprised his "Alfalfa" character, complete with comically sour vocals, in PRC's Gas House Kids comedies in 1946 and 1947. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Hello and thank you for being a DL contributor. "He was more of a part-time hunting guide," says his son, Lance. He married Diantha Collingwood in 1954 and had a son named Justin Lance Collingwood Switzer before divorcing in 1957. It was a tough time for meand him. An error has occured while loading the map. Verify and try again. Of all the kids, Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer was a goofy looking kid with freckles, greasy hair and a cowlick. During the struggle, the gun accidentally went off. His parents spent it all. In January 1958, Switzer was getting into his car in front of a bar in Studio City, when a bullet smashed through the window and struck him in the upper right arm. What a piece of shit loser! Switzer had a reunion with his former co-star George McFarland in 1957. There is a problem with your email/password. [2], Switzer had an uncredited role as Auggie in the 1943 film The Human Comedy. "Heiress of the grain elevator empire Collingwood Grain, Inc. and first wife of murdered Our Gang actor Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer who met and married the troubled child star on a blind date in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1954 and became the mother of his only known son Justin Lance Collingwood-Switzer, but the marriage lasted less than two years, ending . Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. This is a carousel with slides. The shooting was judged to be self-defense. In the 1950s, he had numerous brushes with the law, and two marriages that broke up, followed by appearances in a series of forgettable movies and bit parts, often unaccredited. By the late fifties, Carl Switzer had few acting jobs. There was a problem getting your location. Paris was the birthplace of American actor Carl Switzerexcept it was the one in Illinois, not France. He married Pamela Gladys Shanks in 1921, in Illinois, United States. In 1952, he played a busboy in the film Pat and Mike starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Take a look at At a tender age, Switzer started performing along with his brother Harold. [italic] What's It All About, Alfalfie ? For another, Tom Corrigan, Stiltzs stepson, told a different version of what happened on that Wednesday night in Los Angeles. Switzer began his career as a child actor in the mid-1930s appearing in the Our Gang short subjects series as Alfalfa, one of the series' most popular and best-remembered characters. Pedos who find a way to work with children usually do. News of Harold and Carl's Hollywood success reached their hometown of Illinois, and they were greatly celebrated there. Web. He said he then saw his stepfather shove Piott against the kitchen counter and threaten to kill him too. If only he'd had an IG account to share the travails of faded child stardom, as I do, he might have survived.. His name was Freddie. They had a son together but divorced in 1957. He was 14 years old at the time. Failed to delete memorial. Hello. Then in 1936, Carl appeared as Alfalfa in Our Gang shorts 'The Lucky Corner', 'Arbor Day' and 'Spooky Hooky'. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Add to your scrapbook. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. He supported himself by bartending, guiding hunters, and breeding and training hunting dogs. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. [9], Corrigan was never called to testify at the coroner's inquest, and Stiltz testified in his own favor. He was sentenced to one year's probation. Switzer married in 1954 and had one son before divorcing his wife in 1957. Switzer and a friend, photographer Jack Piott, went to the Stiltz home in Mission Hills to demand payment. This is a carousel with slides. Switzer was dead when he arrived at the hospital. Piott backed Stiltzs story and the shooting was determined to be in self-defense. From time to time, the boys performed at local shows and fairs and proved to be popular among the locals. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Carl Alfalfa Switzer, the child star actor, Alfalfa in "Our Gang" did not live until his old age. In 1967, Harold killed a customer over a dispute. He was in a room with a group of men when a man with a trained bear showed up. During the struggle, a shot was fired into the ceiling and Corrigan was struck in the leg by a fragment. But eventually he was shot in the nuts and died at 31 while threatening someone with a knife. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. It's a problem that's plagued young performers since pretty much the advent of movies, but Carl would try to make the best of the hand he was dealt though it would all ultimately have a tragic end . Justin later took on the last name of Eldridge during his mother's marriage to Richard Eldridge. Alcohol and "trouble with the law" followed after he became an adult. Unfortunately, the dog disappeared after running after a bear. A son, Justin Lance Collingwood Switzer (now Eldridge), was born early that year in Garden City. ", He was a real loser, take it from me Scotty Beckett. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Failed to report flower. The threat was followed by a struggle that began with one of the men, Switzer or Piott, striking Stiltz with the clock. What become of Alfalfa's son? Someone found the dog and brought it to the bar where Switzer was working as a bartender. Meanwhile, Stiltz had Jack Piott backed up against the kitchen counter at gunpoint, shouting that he was next. In 1956, he had an uncredited role in the flick 'Dig That Uranium'. Wrong username or password. George Spanky McFarland, Darla Hood, and Carl Switzer as Alfalfa in Our Gang Follies of 1938, Carl Switzer guesting with George Burns on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, Carl Switzers grave on August 7, 2012, the 85th anniversary of his birth. Anybody who ever saw him on Carson during his "Baretta' days saw he had issues. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Carl Switzer was unhappy with being out $50 since the dog was not his but belonged to Stiltz. Try again. They divorced in 1957. Both sang and could play a number of instruments. Documentary about Alfalfa's life, with new details suggesting his death by gunshot was most likely not accidental. Unfortunately, during the trip, one of the dogs went missing. The date was August 8, 1927, and Switzer was one of four children. Stiltz decided not to give the money and the two men started fighting. Harold was given two nicknames, "Slim" and "Deadpan", while Carl was dubbed "Alfalfa".[2]. The same year, he acted in the movies 'Gas House Kids and 'Courage of Lassie'. He was 31. When Carl turned six, his parents took him and his older siblings to California to visit family members living there. The two were headed for the door when Stiltz then fired the fatal shot. People were beginning to forget about the former child star. 0 cemeteries found in Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California, USA. The guy says "what's the matter, Othello, jealous?" Diantha married Richard Rosswell "Ross" Elridge (19332007), who adopted and raised Lance as his own, and had two other children by him, sons Chris and Lee Elridge. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? click ACCEPT. Between 1952 and 1955, he made six appearances on The Roy Rogers Show. A guy who orders hard drinks to get drunk fast. There was an error deleting this problem. Despite their parents' economic struggles, Harold and his siblings were happy kids. A system error has occurred. He also guest-starred in an episode of the American science fiction anthology series Science Fiction Theatre and The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. Please click here to update your account with a username and password. A judge later ruled his death as "justifiable homicide. The same year, he acted in the movies Gas House Kids and Courage of Lassie. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. He married Diantha Collingwood in 1954 and had a son named Justin Lance Collingwood Switzer before divorcing in 1957. . Knowing Carl, I knew that wasn't going to last. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. A man found the dog and returned it to Carl, who rewarded him and appreciated him with several drinks. He rewarded the rescuer with $35 in cash and $15 in drinks. The gun discharged accidentally, almost shooting Corrigan. We will examine his life from its beginning in Paris, Il. Weve updated the security on the site. Corrigan's mother, Rita Corrigan, opened the door to find a drunk Switzer, complaining about a perceived month-old debt and demanding repayment. "42 Years Ago: A friend recalls the death of Our Gang's Alfalfa". As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Verify and try again. By the end of 1937, Switzer's "Alfalfa" had surpassed the series' nominal star, George "Spanky" McFarland, in popularity. There is little information regarding what he did after starring in bit-part roles on "Our Gang." We are changing the login scheme for contributors for simpler login and to better support using multiple devices. Stiltz did not pay Carl's request any attention as he felt the dog got lost in his care. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Some reports say he died due to a failed drug deal, while other accounts say Stiltz intentionally killed him. Diantha, or Dian, Collingwood was briefly the wife of Carl Switzer between 1954 and 1957. Well, let's just say Spanky really lived up to his name on this one. However, none of these other accounts have stood the test of time. You can always change this later in your Account settings. He had an older sister named Janice Genevieve and his younger brother Carl. In 1934, Carl Switzer, along his brother Harold, visited the Our Gang Caf operated by the Hal Roach Studio and started an impromptu performance. I did quite well. Although Carl and George got along fine, their fathers argued constantly over salaries . He would later become known as "Alfalfa", a character he played on the Hal Roach produced series of film shorts called Our Gang, known later in syndication as The Little Rascals. Alfalfa (Carl Switzer) had an older brother, Harold! 2008 - 2023 INTERESTING.COM, INC. Carl Dean "Alfalfa" Switzer (August 7, 1927 - January 21, 1959) was an American child actor, professional dog breeder and hunting guide, most notable for appearing in the Our Gang short subjects series as Alfalfa, one of the series' most popular and best remembered characters. Besides sharing a mom, the siblings also met their deaths in similar tragic circumstances. He was buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery next to his father and his brother. That dog got lost and Switzer offered an award of $35 for its return. Switzer had appeared as a slave (uncredited) in the last film for which DeMille was credited as a director, The Ten Commandments. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Of course when he grew older his career waned and he was harassed by people who would razz him by saying "Hey Alfalfa, sing off key!" Stiltz shot Switzer in self-defense, claiming the former child star pulled a knife on him. R14 Sheesh all you want. The same year, Switzer worked in the biblical epic film titled 'The Ten Commandments' as well as in the war film titled 'Between Heaven and Hell'. Though differing accounts of the event exist, all agree that Stiltz was struck over the left side of his head with a glass clock. Actor: Second Childhood. Harold "Slim" Switzer is interred at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, California, alongside his brother Carl.". Now that you mention it, Alfalfa did have crazy eyes. Year should not be greater than current year. Some of these jobs included stints as a bartender and hunting guide. R63, there was a pedophile among the 'Our Gang' directors - Gus Meins, senior director for some sixteen of the films, 1934-36. If you can't find the email you can resend it here. He was fatally shot by an acquaintance in a dispute over money in January 1959. SWITZER - Friends of Carl E. Switzer, who died Friday, March 2, 2018, will be received from noon until 3 and 6 to 8 p.m . The police never bothered to reopen the case file after new accounts since most of the people involved had died. Death. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Help us build the largest biographies collection on the web! He was born on August 7, 1927 at Paris, Illinois, United States. This browser does not support getting your location. Their son, Justin Lance Collingwood Switzer . Switzer and Collingwood divorced a year later. This browser does not support getting your location. Darrell Lunsford: Dashcam Video Records a Murder, Gloria Pointer: Astonishing Murder of a Teen Girl, Mad Butcher: Strange Killer Makes Panic for Cleveland, Arnold Rothstein: Big Man Behind World Series Gambling Scandal, Michelle Mockbee: Devastating Murder of a Reliable Employee, Jason Owens: Secrets and Murder of a Media Star, George Trepal: Murder by Means of a Rare Poison, Brett Seacat: Man Burns Down House in Daring Murder, Mark Putnam: Love and Murder in Appalachia, Mary Winkler: Wrist Slap in an Amazing Murder Case. Unfortunately, his life took a tragic turn when he became an adult. If so, login to add it. STANDS4 LLC, 2023. 2023. Investigators found it under Switzers body at the crime scene. This week, Im going to tell you about the death of Carl Switzer. The way their lives panned out and the tragic nature of their deaths not only leaves a sad taste in the mouth and begs the question of what could have been. Switzer always goes the extra mile when it comes to his children. Login to find your connection. Since Carl's demise, there have been different accounts of his death. Kansas, and Switzer took the offer. HAROLD SWITZER: ALFALFA'S BROTHER. Stiltz shared the home with his wife, Rita Corrigan, and his stepchildren. However, they divorced in 1957. As he grew into and out of his teens, he worked steadily in character roles with diminishing returns, always immediately and distractingly recognizable as Alfalfa. Otherwise, he threatened to kick the door in. Carl and Diantha Switzer divorced in 1957.George McFarland recalled in a 1987 interview how 1957 was the last time he saw Switzer. Switzer then pulled a hunting knife and threatened to kill Stiltz. Try again. To find the dog, Switzer offered a $35 reward for its return. https://www.biographies.net/biography/lance_switzer/m/0hnkttb, https://www.biographies.net/biography/lance-switzer/m/0hnkttb. I had no idea. discoveries. He was best known for his role as Alfalfa in the short subjects series Our Gang. Failed to remove flower. Learn more about merges. Born in Paris, IL #3. in Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California , United States, This form allows you to report an error or to submit additional information about this family tree: Carl "Alfalfa" SWITZER (1927), Biography from Wikipedia (see original) under licence CC BY-SA 3.0. She was drunk. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. So, he took out ads offering a reward for the dogs safe return. He said he heard the knock on the front door, and Switzer said "Western Union for Bud Stiltz." On the night of Aug. 26, 1959, Louise Switzer walked into her oldest son's room to tell him good night. 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